Sanjay Dutt to stand for Lok Sabha

Sanjay Dutt will be representing the Samajwadi (Socialist) Party in the Lucknow constituency for the Lok Sabha elections. Party leader Amar Singh said, “Dutt told me you are like my elder brother. He said he would do anything I ask him to though he said he was not a political person.” The seat is currently held by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Sanjay’s sister Priya Dutt is a Congress Party MP for Mumbai as was his father. “Since we are an ally of Congress, and Dutt’s sister Priya is a Congress MP, we hope Congress will be happy that we are fielding Dutt,” Singh added. Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari will be representing the SP in Gorakphur.

A possible fly in the ointment is that Sanjay Dutt was recently convicted under the Arms Act and this may prevent him from standing. The SP will need to appeal to the Supreme Court to allow a waiver.

Meanwhile, filming has recommenced on the Kashmiri-based film Lamhaa, in which Sanjay appears in an action role as a Military Intelligence Officer (MIO): “I liked the feel of the film and the way my character was to be styled at the first narration,” Sanjay explained, “Also, after Rocky and Mission Kashmir this would have been my third film to be shot in Kashmir, and I wanted to go back to the state where I had some great memories.” The film also stars Bipasha Basu.